REVOLVING DOOR:
David Common has been named the new host of CBC Morning Live, following Heather Hiscox’s retirement after 20 seasons at the helm of the national morning show. Common has hosted CBC Toronto weekday morning radio show, Metro Morning, since 2023 after starting his career with CBC News in 1999 in the London, UK bureau. He’ll take on the national TV morning show full-time, starting Feb. 2. Guest hosts will step in to lead CBC Morning Live until then. Read more here.
Hello to my OG twitter audience. I have let my colleagues at Global BC know that November 18 is going to be my last day with the company and as a reporter at the Legislature. I am deeply grateful to all of the viewers, social media followers and listeners over the years. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/egtLvB66Jp
— Richard Zussman (@richardzussman) November 6, 2025
Richard Zussman has announced his departure from Global BC. His last day is Nov. 18. Zussman has been a reporter with Global BC’s legislative bureau in Victoria since 2018. He’s previously reported for CBC Vancouver, Sun News Network, as well as CityNews in Vancouver and Edmonton.
Bianca Millions is now the weekend morning anchor at Global Edmonton, in addition to working as a digital journalist during the week. Millions arrives from CityNews Edmonton where she’d been a video journalist since 2022.
Mike Boothman has a new role at Hamilton’s CHCH TV as the Lineup Editor on Morning Live, replacing Hadi Azad who is now Assignment Editor. Boothman joined CHCH earlier this year on contract as Evening News producer after 15 years as Managing Producer at CTV Barrie. Hadi has been with the station for three years, starting as a part-time writer.
Harry Corro is among CHCH TV’s new part-time hires. Corro joins the station as a video journalist, arriving from Victoria where he worked for Black Press Media for the past year. Nicole Reis, whose background includes working for Pattison Media’s Saskatchewan stations, joins as a part-time news writer. Emily Hwang is CHCH-TV’s newest part-time reporter, arriving from CTV News Channel.
Adam Stanley has moved into an expanded role with Sportsnet as the network’s Ottawa Bureau reporter. He’ll also continue to cover golf.
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Tony Stark is returning to Virgin Radio (CJFM-FM) Montreal almost 11 years to the day since his last show on the station. Stark will be heard covering for Charli Paige in the 2 – 7 p.m. weekday slot for the next year. Stark was most recently on-air at Corus Entertainment’s Jump 106.9 (CKQB-FM) Ottawa in afternoon drive before being released by the network in February.
Russell MacKenzie is joining Stingray’s Q104 (CFRQ-FM) and 96.5 The Breeze (CKUL-FM) Halifax as a part-time announcer. MacKenzie was laid off last month from Acadia Broadcasting where he’d been hosting afternoon drive on both Hot Country 103.5 (CKHZ-FM) Halifax and Country 105 (CKTG-FM) Thunder Bay. Ian Robinson moves from middays to afternoons on Hot Country 103.5.
Connie Bailey has departed Golden West Broadcasting’s Winkler, MB stations, Country 88 (CKMW-FM) and The Eagle 93.5 (CJEL-FM), where she’s been Content Director since March of last year. Bailey has joined Winnipeg-based startup ModExec as Brand & Communications Lead, Fractional Marketing.
RADIO & PODCAST:
Stingray is set to acquire live audio streaming and ad monetization platform, TuneIn. The app currently boasts over 75 million monthly active listeners worldwide, providing access to more than 100,000 radio stations, podcasts, music channels, news, sports, and audiobooks. Its content is distributed across more than 200 platforms and connected devices, including over 50 in-car audio systems, in over 100 countries. The transaction is valued at up to USD $175 million. Stingray Radio President Steve Jones is positioning the pending acquisition as good news for the radio industry, both in Canada and abroad. Read more here.
Novacast Media, which operates Active Rock station Go Rock (CFLB-FM) Lunenburg, NS, has launched Go Throwbacks, a new digital radio station available on the Go Radio Canada app and GoThrowbacks.ca. Broadcasting the biggest CHR hits from the 1990s and 2000s, Go Throwbacks promises to bring back the era of mix CDs, flip phones, and early downloads on Napster, playing artists from Britney Spears to Blink 182, Outkast and Avril Lavigne.
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Tom McGouran, Morning Show Host at Native Communications Inc.’s Now Country 104.7 (CIUR-FM) Winnipeg, captured Radio On-Air Personality of the Year at the 2025 Manitoba Country Music Association Awards on Nov. 8. Now Country sister station NCI FM 105.5 (CICY-FM) was named Radio Station of the Year. Find the full list of winners here.
Acadia Broadcasting’s Halifax stations, Hot Country 103.5 (CKHZ-FM) and Surge 105 (CKHY-FM), along with local community station Seaside FM (CFEP-FM) Eastern Passage, combined their efforts for the 6th annual Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation Radiothon. The stations broadcast for 12 hours on Oct. 24 from the hospital’s atrium, raising over $195,000.
Pro Bono Group’s Pro Canada Project has added Canadian author Louise Penny to its list of “Buy Canadian” PSA campaign supporters. Penny’s new book, The Black Wolf, debuted at #1 this week on The New York Times Best Sellers list and is now the top fiction title in North America. In her PSA to Canadians, Penny expresses her love for the country and commitment to supporting Canadian businesses, saying “My books are mysteries I set in Canada. I love this country, and there is no mystery why. I’m buying Canadian products to save Canadian jobs and protect Canadian businesses.” Learn more here.
The City of Winnipeg has come under scrutiny for Our City, Our Podcast, which according to documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation under a freedom of information request, cost $35,000 to produce, but garnered fewer than 100 listens per episode on YouTube (the CTF report does not take into account downloads on other platforms). As of November, 20 episodes had been produced, with the CTF calling for a review of all taxpayer-funded non-essential communications projects.
iHeartMedia and TikTok have unveiled a multi-platform partnership that will bring TikTok creators into iHeart’s ecosystem. The collaboration includes the launch of the TikTok Podcast Network, which will feature up to 25 new podcasts hosted by TikTok creators, as well as a national broadcast and digital radio station, and series of live event integrations. TikTok Radio will pair TikTok creators with experienced iHeartRadio personalities, featuring “not only TikTok’s hottest new songs, but also trend-driven storytelling and emotional context behind the music, including segments like Behind-the-Charts, New Music Fridays, and On The Verge.”
LISTEN: Adam McNeil, Senior Vice-President of Client Services at podcast advertising agency Adopter Media, is on the latest Sound Off Podcast. McNeil discusses how brands can effectively match with podcasts, using a five-step vetting framework; highlights challenges in podcast advertising, including the difference between downloads and actual listens, and the variations between Canadian and American podcast markets; and offers advice for podcasters seeking advertisers.
SIGN OFFS:
Gary Megaffin, 88, on Oct. 25. Megaffin started his career in radio in the mid-1950s as a news reader on CFOS AM 560 Owen Sound. From there, he joined CKCR AM 1490 Kitchener in 1960, where he was known as “Gary Laffin’ Megaffin,” for often laughing the most at his own jokes. He went on to work with CHIC-AM Brampton from 1974-75, co-hosting Sports Talk, alongside Michael Colle.
TV & FILM:
The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) handed out the 24th annual DGC Awards on Nov. 8 in Toronto, with CBC/APTN/Netflix comedy North is North leading wins with four, including Comedy Series Crew of the Year, and Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for Danis Goulet. Other series garnering multiple awards included The Handmaid’s Tale, Wyonna Earp: Vengeance, along with feature film, 40 Acres. This year’s Jean-Marc Vallee DGC Discovery Award was presented to Siksika filmmaker Trevor Solway, director of Siksikakowan: The Blackfoot Man. Find the full list of winners here.
Crave original comedy series The Office Movers is returning for a third season. The news comes alongside the debut of Season 2. Created by and starring comedic writer-producer duo Jermaine “Jae” and Trevaunn “Trey” Richards as two brothers navigating Toronto’s commercial office moving industry, Season 2 features special appearances by their longtime friend and collaborator, Drake.
Crave has renewed Canada’s Drag Race for a seventh season ahead of the Season 6 premiere on Thursday, Nov. 20, launching simultaneously on World of Wonder’s SVOD platform WOW Presents Plus, in the U.S. and 190 territories worldwide. Brooke Lynn Hytes and Traci Melchor are joined by resident guest judges Carson Kressley; choreographer Hollywood Jade; and activist, host, and filmmaker Sarain Fox, in addition to music superstar Paula Abdul, Canada’s Drag Race Season 2 winner Icesis Couture; Rupaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars Season 1 winner Alyssa Edwards; designer Erdem Moralioglu; content creator Glamzilla; recording artist Kiesza; Grammy-winning artist Allison Russell; and JUNO winner Rufus Wainwright.
OUTtv has unveiled its latest programming slate, including five newly-commissioned original series. The new slate features scripted dark comedy series Sisters, following three sister-wives whose patriarch drops dead mid-potato harvest; music documentary Queer Country; reality series OUTSPOKEN: Full Access Drag, exploring the intersection of drag and disability; Rebecca More talk show Best Sex Ever; and reality series Ultimate Boy’s Trip, alongside the return of award-winning docuseries Pride, which has been renewed for a sixth season.
The Canada’s Walk of Fame’s 2025 Future Storytellers program, presented by founding partner NBCUniversal, alongside Seeing Red Media and Cineplex, features four short films, each focusing on a Canadian icon and inductee. Created by emerging filmmakers from Humber Polytechnic and Sheridan College, the three-minute films can be viewed online on the newly designed canadaswalkoffame.com, with a special Future Storytellers Screening Event planned for March. Shot at Toronto’s Astrolab Studios in July, the vignettes each showcase the vision of an up-and-coming filmmaker from an underrepresented community. Those featured include actor and advocate Tantoo Cardinal (2023 Inductee); humanitarian and War Child Canada/War Child USA founder Dr. Samantha Nutt (2025 Inductee); Glass Tiger frontman Alan Frew (2023 Inductee); and comedian and TV personality Rick Mercer (2023 Inductee).
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
TVA Group has announced it’s eliminating 87 primarily unionized jobs, as the Quebecor-owned broadcaster continues to chase profitability. The cuts include both permanent and temporary positions in Montreal, as well as local stations in Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke Saguenay, and Rimouski. Quebecor said in a statement Wednesday that the decision comes “as TVA Group’s financial situation continues to deteriorate,” posting cumulative net losses of more than $93 million since January 2022. The company said while restructuring and workforce rationalization plans have partially offset a decline in ad revenue, that decline “is a long-term, industry-wide trend that continues to accelerate.” Since 2023, Quebecor has eliminated nearly 800 jobs in its Broadcasting segment. Read more here.
Quebecor President & CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau blasted the lack of support for broadcasters in last week’s federal budget as the company reported its consolidated financial results for the third quarter of 2025. Net income attributable to shareholders was $236.1 million, an increase of $47.1 million or 24.9%. The Media and Sports and Entertainment segments posted increases of $8.7 million (59.2%) and $3.3 million (28.2%) respectively in adjusted EBITDA in Q3. TVA Group generated revenues of $106.2 million in the third quarter, down $6.2 million (‑5.5%), and year‑to‑date revenues of $355.3 million, down $30.3 million (‑7.8%). Read more here.
BCE results for Q3 2025 saw operating revenues of $6,049 million, up 1.3% compared to Q3 2024, as a result of 0.8% higher service revenue, reflecting the acquisition of Ziply Fiber in August and a 5.1% increase in product revenue. That was offset by year-over-year declines at Bell CTS Canada and Bell Media. Net earnings increased $5,746 million to $4,555 million, compared to a net loss of $1,191 million in Q3 2024. Year-over-year increases were mainly due to the sale of BCE’s minority stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). Bell Media operating revenue decreased 6.4% to $732 million in Q3. Ad revenue was down 11.5%, compared to the same period last year due to continued lower demand for traditional advertising, primarily impacting conventional and entertainment specialty channels, as well as lower year-over-year audio advertising related to Bell’s divestiture of 45 radio stations. That was offset by higher digital video ad revenue reflecting growth in Connected TV and ad-supported subscription tiers on Crave, as well as higher digital out-of-home revenues.
TELUS released its unaudited results for the third quarter of 2025, reporting consolidated operating revenues and other income of $5.1 billion, which was flat compared to the same period a year ago. TELUS added 288,000 net customer additions in Q3, down 59,000 over the same period last year due to decelerating growth from slowing immigration, in addition to competitive pressures and changing customer preferences.
The Sidney Hillman Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Canadian Hillman Prizes, honouring excellence in investigative journalism in service of the common good. The judges will consider entries in print/digital, broadcast (TV, radio, podcast), and local/community news (any medium or format). The Canadian Hillman Prize winners will be awarded a $2,500 honorarium at a celebration in Toronto on April 9, as well as travel to New York City to be a guest at the U.S Hillman Prize ceremony on May 5. The deadline for entries is Jan. 15.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
ADVERTORIAL: Read about how Toronto’s College of Sports Media (CSM) is using Burli software as the foundation of its real-world broadcast training. Founder David Lanys says from day one, CSM was built to mirror a working broadcast operation. Students don’t just learn about news gathering – they live it, producing radio and television segments, writing stories to deadline, and editing audio and video daily. Lanys credits Burli with helping replicate that newsroom intensity. Read more here.
